People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) started a war of words on Tuesday after it declared on Twitter that certain animal-based idioms such as 'beating a dead horse' or 'catching a bull by the horns' are akin to homophobia and racism.

The animal rights group instead suggested replacing these terms with neutral statements that do not promote cruelty toward animals. For example, instead of saying 'flogging/beating a dead horse', PETA suggested we use the term "feeding the fed horse" and replace 'catching a bull by the horns' with 'catching a flower by the thorns.

These aren't the only innovative replacements. Instead of 'bring home the bacon', PETA suggested 'bring home the bagel'. Just killed two birds with one stone? If PETA had its way, you would just have 'fed two birds with one scone'.

In the adjoining post, the organisation stated that words mattered. "As our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves along with it." Calling it 'speciesm', PETA went on to outline that these phrases that directly promoted cruelty toward certain species of animals were the same as phrases and language that targeted race and gender and special needs.

"Just as it became unacceptable to use racist, homophobic, or ableist language, phrases that trivialize cruelty to animals will vanish as more people begin to appreciate animals for who they are..." it added.

The post, however, has elicited a number of reactions on social media, many of which started raining 'cats and dogs', if we may, with memes and further suggestions.

Raising awareness and teaching us new phrases? thats killing two birds with one stone right there.

I have to talk a little bit about the elephant in the room. I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill but I'm busy as a bee today. I feel like a fish out of water. Like I found a fly in the ointment.